Simple Memo vs Drafts
Which Should You Choose?
The key difference is destination flexibility. Drafts is a universal text hub that sends text to any app via Actions. Simple Memo sends to the destinations you set up once (email, plus Obsidian or Notion if you turn them on) — no destination to choose per memo, just type and send, with the cursor live 0.4 seconds after the tap (warm launch, iPhone 16e).
This comparison is written by Simple Memo's developer using published product information and the developer's launch-time measurements (iPhone 16e, warm launch). We have not published a usage log, so this is not a hands-on review. Drafts lets you choose what happens to a draft with Actions after you write; Simple Memo sends to a destination you set in advance with one tap.
What is Drafts?
Drafts by Agile Tortoise is an Apple-exclusive text input app. Its concept "Where text starts" means it opens with the cursor ready. Written text can be sent to email, Messages, Twitter, Notion, Obsidian, and more via its powerful Actions system. Basic features are free; Pro costs $1.99/month ($19.99/year).
Drafts Actions vs Email Send: Speed Comparison
Drafts' Actions system is powerful for sending text to various apps. But when email delivery is the sole goal, that versatility actually adds steps. Here's a real-world timeline comparison.
Sending email via Drafts: Launch app (0.9s at best, 1.45s median in our measurement) → type text → tap Actions button → select "Mail" from action list → confirm recipient and subject → tap send. Several taps after typing. Custom actions can shorten this, but they take some setup first.
Sending email via Simple Memo: Launch app (0.4s; warm launch, iPhone 16e) → type text → one-tap send. That's it. No action selection, no recipient confirmation, no per-send setup.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Simple Memo | Drafts |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Speed | 0.4s | 0.9s (fastest of 5 warm launches; median 1.45s) |
| Email Send | One-tap direct send | Via Actions |
| Pricing | Free (3 sends/day) | Free (Pro $1.99/mo) |
| Offline Support | Outbox auto-resend | Local storage |
| Encryption | AES-GCM (on-device) | iCloud encryption |
| Actions | None (sends to email and Obsidian) | Extensive (customizable) |
| Apple Watch | Supported | Supported |
| Setup Complexity | Low (enter and verify your email) | Action setup required |
3 Philosophical Differences
- 1Output Design: Actions vs Email Delivery
Drafts lives up to its "Where text starts" concept by routing text to Notion, Slack, and dozens of other apps via Actions. Simple Memo sends to the email address you set (plus Obsidian or Notion if you turn them on), so you never pick a destination per memo. - 2Customization: JavaScript vs Minimal Setup
Drafts lets power users build custom Actions with JavaScript. Simple Memo needs only your email address, entered and verified once. For those who do not want to spend time on configuration, Simple Memo is a good fit. - 3Pricing: Drafts Pro $19.99/yr vs Simple Memo - for Obsidian $29.99/yr
Drafts' full feature set requires Pro ($1.99/month or $19.99/year). Simple Memo is free for 3 sends/day, with Premium at $2.99/month ($29.99/year). If email delivery is your only goal, try both free tiers before paying for either.
Who Should Choose Which?
- Only want email delivery
- Want minimal setup
- Want a Captio alternative
- Want on-device encryption (AES-GCM)
- Prefer minimal UI
- Send text to multiple apps
- Love action automation
- Build advanced Apple Watch workflows
- Edit in markdown
- Build text processing workflows
When to Use Drafts
Simple Memo specializes in email delivery, but Drafts is genuinely better in these scenarios. When you need to route text to multiple apps, Drafts' Action system is incredibly powerful.
- 1Multi-App Text Routing
Drafts' Action system can automatically send written text to Notion databases, Obsidian daily notes, Trello cards, Twitter DMs, and virtually any app. For those whose text destinations extend beyond email, Drafts' Actions are unmatched. - 2Voice Input from Apple Watch
Drafts supports Apple Watch, enabling voice input directly from your wrist. For hands-busy situations (cooking, driving, working out), Drafts is overwhelmingly convenient. Simple Memo now offers basic Apple Watch support for quick capture. Drafts remains stronger for advanced Watch workflows and multi-step automation. - 3Markdown Editing and Complex Text Processing
Drafts offers Markdown preview, syntax highlighting, and custom keyboard bars for text editing and manipulation. Regex text transformations and JavaScript Actions enable programmable text processing that goes far beyond simple capture.
Migration Guide: Drafts to Simple Memo
This guide is for those tired of Drafts' Action configuration complexity, or seeking the simplicity of "just send to email" as a Captio alternative. If email delivery is your primary use case, Simple Memo is a good fit.
- 1Download Simple Memo from the App Store
The free version allows up to 3 sends per day. No special migration steps from Drafts are needed. Just install and set your email address. - 2Review Your Usage Patterns in Drafts
Check your Drafts inbox and analyze where you have been sending text. If over 80% goes to email, the migration to Simple Memo will be very smooth. If you frequently use other Actions (Notion, Trello, etc.), consider keeping Drafts alongside. - 3Configure Simple Memo's Email Destination
Set the same email address you used in Drafts' email Action. Your existing email folder structure and filters remain fully compatible. - 4Run Both Apps in Parallel for One Week
Keep both Drafts and Simple Memo installed for the first week. Use Simple Memo when you want to send email, Drafts when you need other Actions. Compare the experience directly. - 5Complete the Migration if Email is Primary
After one week, if your Drafts inbox is nearly empty, that is your signal for full migration. Cancel your Drafts subscription and consolidate to Simple Memo alone, saving costs in the process.
FAQ
How does Drafts' email Action differ from Simple Memo?
Drafts' Mail Action requires selecting and executing an action after writing your text. Simple Memo completes the send with a single tap. There is no action to choose, which saves a step each time — it adds up when you send several memos a day.
Do I need Drafts' Workspace feature?
Drafts Workspaces are powerful for organizing text with tags and filters, but require Pro ($1.99/month or $19.99/year). If your goal is email delivery, Simple Memo's send-and-forget approach leaves the organizing to your inbox. Choose Drafts if you want to categorize text, Simple Memo if you want to capture and move on.
Why not just use Drafts' built-in email Action?
Drafts has a default Mail Action, but executing it requires selecting the action manually. When offline, text accumulates in Drafts' inbox and you must re-run actions manually when connectivity returns. Simple Memo's Outbox automatically resends memos sent while offline once you're back online. Automatic retries have a limit; after that, you resend the memo from History.
Is migrating from Drafts to Simple Memo as a Captio alternative easy?
Yes. Simple Memo follows the same "open, type, send" flow as Captio. If you were manually executing email Actions in Drafts, switching to Simple Memo gives you one-tap sending immediately. Enter your email address once and confirm it with the 6-digit code sent to it.
